The Socialist 7 June 2007

Labour cheats NHS

PFI - a licence to print money

Petition on NHS: Stop cuts and privatisations (word)

Fight Brown's agenda of war, cuts & privatisation

Postal workers fight closure

Coventry says 'keep our Post Office open'

CWU delegates attack link with Labour

Come to the Shop Stewards' Network conference

National Shop Stewards Network Founding conference

Ritzy - low-paid workers strike again

80,000 demonstrate against the G8 summit

Activists with ideas

Drowning in an ocean of debt

Young people: a bright future... or different shades of grey

Bolivia: Release Adam Ziemkowski

South Africa: Public sector workers in mass fightback

The Arab-Israel 1967 war: repression and bloodshed continues

Don't trust the Trust schools - organise!

Tony Blair "brings church into school"

Weekly bin collections AND recycling schemes

Black and Asian group: Socialist ideas to unite all workers

Take part in the 22-28 June Fighting Fund week of action

The fat cat and the 'cleaning lady'

Remploy management squander opportunities

Tesco strikes show new mood

Previous issues, etc

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Postal workers fight closure

As postal workers nationally voted overwhelmingly for national strike action, The Socialist received this report of strike action in Derbyshire.

ON 30 MAY there was a lively picket/demonstration of Communication Workers' Union (CWU) members on both sides of a busy trunk road against the closure of Heanor sorting office in Derbyshire. Many passing drivers beeped their horns in support of the pickets.

This was the first day of a four-day strike, as Royal Mail management want to move the sorting operations to the nearby town of Ilkeston.

Area Delivery Rep Chris Sheldon spoke to the socialist: "After looking around in trying to make cuts in larger sorting offices such as Burton upon Trent, management decided the axe will fall on us. This will mean closing a virtually new building.

"They say it is a business decision but there has been no consultation with the workforce and local people. We already know, despite the management promises of no job losses, not all the workforce will be able to carry on their same duties at Ilkeston.

"This is all part of the national Royal Mail strategy in cutting terms and conditions, when postal workers already earn £80 per week below the national average. They want to bring in bonuses, which will be based on regional and local targets and at the same time take away additional shift benefits for working before 6.30am.

"They also want to increase the number of leaflets we can be asked to deliver from three to five, without extra pay."

Postal workers fight closure

As postal workers nationally voted overwhelmingly for national strike action, The Socialist received this report of strike action in Derbyshire.

Brain Loader, Derbyshire Socialist Party

See also Hands off our postal service, The Socialist March 29th